Mary Oliver
The wind wags its many tails. And in the evening the piled firewood shifts a little, longing to be on its way. —Mary Oliver
August 15, 2025
New Memoir Tells a Stateless Story
Mikael (Misha) Okuns runs the Behind the Bookstore coffee shop and has been a staple of caffeinated life in Edgartown since 2014. This summer, he published a memoir that is about coffee and so much more. The story he tells involves his long and winding journey to America from his native Azerbaijan. The book is…
Saturn
The ringed-planet Saturn is making its way into our late evening sky. The planet is in the zodiacal constellation Pisces. It rises in the east around 10 p.m. You can see the planet low in the southeastern sky. Pisces does not have any bright stars so Saturn will stand by itself, a beacon in the…
Chappy Town Column: Week Ending August 15
The Chappy Community Center annual meeting is on Saturday, August 16 from 9 to 10 a.m. S
Embracing the Art of Dance and Inclusivity
Dance Theatre of Harlem will be in residence on the Island from August 19 to 23, hosted by a group of institutions, including the The Yard, Vineyard Arts Project, Vineyard Preservation Trust and the Oak Bluffs Public Library.
Bridge Column: Week of August 15
How do you reach a hard-to-bid slam? Here’s a test case.
Boys in Blue Babies Keep Growing Up
In 2017, five Oak Bluffs police families each welcomed a new baby, within the span of five months.
Role Model for Captain Quint Gets His Closeup
The Farmer and the Shark, a new documentary, highlights Craig Kingsbury’s role in Jaws, along with other Islanders who helped turn the almost failed picture into a piece of movie history.
From Architect to Developer, Sam Dunn Likes to Do It His Way
More than 40 years after building Tisbury Market Place, developer Sam Dunn is preparing to open a restaurant called Ocean Club in the former Old Stone Bank lobby, the final step in his most ambitious Island project yet.
Agricultural Fair Returns with New Rides, Same Nod to Tradition
Just a week out from the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair, farmers are eyeing their vegetables, Island artisans are putting the final touches on their wares and cooks are honing their recipes in search of first place blue ribbons.
Paying It Forward for Next Generation of HBCU Students
As part of Legacy Week on Martha’s Vineyard, the first Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) college fair and youth exposition was held at Union Chapel on Tuesday afternoon.
Room for Many Viewpoints
The West Tisbury Farmers’ Market is one of those special places where neighbors, visitors and friends come together to share in good food, conversation and community spirit.
A Different Approach
Without taking sides on the recent pierogi debacle, I feel the need to discuss a broader view of the federal law that allows businesses to discriminate quite easily.
Woes of the Aquinnah
Poor decision-making on the part of the Steamship Authority management and board for its three converted offshore supply vessels (OSVs) has given new meaning to learning curve.
Summers End
They look like my kids, / But they’re not. / Adidas riding / Casting off the dock.
A Canine Trip Around the Hub
Our family’s recent puppy acquisition was the result of an intervention.
Experts Call Tick Conference to Discuss Growing Concerns
Hosted by Martha’s Vineyard Medical, the Tick Talk 2025 conference will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, August 16 at the Katharine Cornell Theatre in Vineyard Haven.
Coriandrum Sativum
It is leaving quite a bitter taste in my mouth.
Warblers Coming
Mary Kentros spotted the first definite southbound migrant warbler, a northern waterthrush, on the muddy shoreline of Deep Bottom Cove on August 6. Its distinctive tail bobbing was conspicuous. This species is much more common than the very similar Louisiana waterthrush.
Honoring and Educating During Metacom Day Remembrance
The day of remembrance at Stillpoint began with a gathering of the tribal community and then in the afternoon the wider Vineyard community was invited to take part in the discussions and activities.
Words of Hope from the Pulpit and the Senate
Sen. Raphael Warnock’s impassioned sermon at the Tabernacle on Sunday married the story from the New Testament about the miracle of the loaves and fishes with present day firings of federal workers, cuts to Medicare and food aid and a large redistribution of wealth.
Feeling the Vibe in Waban Park
On Saturday afternoon at Waban Park in Oak Bluffs, across from Inkwell Beach where the Polar Bears take their morning swim everyday 7:30 a.m., the inaugural MV Vibe Fest was in full swing.
Icon Awards Lift Up Vineyard Trailblazers
The honorees included music executive Troy Carter, African American Film Festival founders Stephanie and Floyd Rance, McKinsey & Company senior partner Shelley Stewart III, former mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms and filmmaker Dawn Porter.
James Weiss, Former Superintendent of Schools, Dies
Dr. James Weiss died on August 10 at the age of 78. He spent 10 of his 46 years in education serving the Island.
Vineyard Summit Explores Diversity Initiatives Under Trump
Nearly 300 people in the diversity, equity and inclusion field gathered on the Island last week to talk about the best way forward in the ever-shifting political landscape.
Spirit of the Vineyard Award Announced
Penny Uhlendorf has been named the recipient of the 2025 Spirit of the Vineyard award.
Land Bank Makes Changes to James Pond Parking
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank will be limiting people to one reservation per week at the James Pond Preserve in West Tisbury.
Granary Gallery Showcases a Creative Community of Artists
The Granary Gallery’s latest exhibit features a diverse range of artwork, from the saturated floral landscapes of David Wallis to paintings of Harriet Tubman by Daryl Royster Alexander.
Interiority Photo Exhibit Speaks Volumes
The current photography exhibit at Featherstone Center for the Arts takes its inspiration from a Toni Morrison phrase from her novel Beloved: “How can I say things that are pictures.”
Ralph Lauren Collection Aims to Celebrate Oak Bluffs Black Community
Ralph Lauren worked with Island organizations such as The Cottagers, the African American Heritage Trail, and Martha’s Vineyard Museum to portray the Island’s history.
SSA Announces Schedule Changes for Road Race, Fireworks
The Steamship Authority is warning travelers about changes to the ferry schedules this month due to the Falmouth Road Race and the Oak Bluffs fireworks.
During Vineyard Visit, Supreme Court Justice Delves into Her Roots
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first ever Black woman to sit on the country’s highest court, was on the Vineyard over the weekend to discuss her work and new memoir.
LadyFest Readies for Return at New Venue
After a one-year hiatus, LadyFest has moved from Circuit avenue to Alley Waban Park, and will feature Grammy Award-winning artist Esperanza Spalding as the headliner.
Creative Freedom Sets the Pace at Built on Stilts
For many dancers, Built On Stilts is a life-long tradition. Isla Luckey, for example, said she started performing at the summer dance festival when she was six years old.
Man Charged After Alleged Secret Filming
Dale Walker is accused of groping a woman and secretly videotaping people having sex in his apartment.
Man Dies After Apparent Medical Issue in Edgartown Harbor
A 62-year-old New York City man died over the weekend after he was found unresponsive in a boat in Edgartown harbor, according to Edgartown police.
Ocean Club Cleared for Dining
Ocean Club, a new fine-dining restaurant on Vineyard Haven’s Main street, has received its eatery license from the Tisbury select board and is in the final stages of local inspections.
Car Crashes Into Vineyard Haven Gallery
One person was brought to the hospital Sunday evening after a car ran into an art gallery on Main street in Vineyard Haven.
Ayanna Pressley Documentary Premieres at African American Film Fest
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley was on the Island Saturday for the premiere of She Dared To Dream, a documentary about the lawmaker made by filmmaker and frequent Vineyard visitor Abby Ginzberg.
Meet the Fleet Gets to the Heart of Fishing Community
Sea scallops and skittering crabs were center stage at Menemsha’s Dutcher Dock on Thursday during the eighth annual Meet the Fleet event put on by the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust.
Sharks Are No Match for Swamp Bats in League Championship
The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks season came to a close Friday night at the Shark Tank with a loss to the Keene Swamp Bats in the second game of the NECBL Championship.
State Reopens Katama Bay, Menemsha Pond to Oystering
Menemsha Pond and Katama Bay reopened to oyster harvesting on Friday morning after being closed for a week to investigate several cases of gastrointestinal illness.
Tisbury Select Board Splits on SSA Term Limits
The select board voted 2-1 to send a letter to the state senate’s transportation committee, which is currently considering the bill that would restrict SSA board members to no more than three three-year terms.
Aquinnah Seeks Clarification on Education Costs
The Aquinnah select board is hoping to learn if the town is responsible for paying the entire education costs for students who live on sovereign land owned by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).
West Nile Virus Found in Tisbury Mosquito
A mosquito trapped in the area of Veteran’s Memorial Park on August 5 tested positive for the virus, which is the main cause of the mosquito-borne disease across the country.
Editor at the Heart of Signalgate Kicks Off Book Festival
At the opening night of the Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, talked with three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning staff writer Ashley Parker about reporting on the president, Signalgate and the future of news.
